3180. methodeia

Lexicon

methodeia: Schemes, wiles, craftiness

Original Word: μεθοδεία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: methodeia
Pronunciation: meth-od-i'-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (meth-od-i'-ah)
Definition: Schemes, wiles, craftiness
Meaning: (a way of search after something, an inquiry; a method), scheming, craftiness, deceit.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

scheming, trickery

From a compound of meta and hodeuo (compare "method"); travelling over, i.e. Travesty (trickery) -- wile, lie in wait.

see GREEK meta

see GREEK hodeuo

HELPS Word-studies

3180 methodeía (the root of the English term, "method") – properly, a predictable (pre-set) method used in organized evil-doing (well-crafted trickery).

[3180 (methodeía) comes from methodos, a "way of searching after something, an inquiry; a method), scheming, craftiness" (Souter).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from methodeuó (to employ craft)
Definition
craft, deceit
NASB Translation
schemes (1), scheming (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3180: μεθοδεία

μεθοδεία (T WH μεθοδια, see Iota), μεθοδείας, ἡ (from μεθοδεύω, i. e.

1. to follow up or investigate by method and settled plan;

2. to follow craftily, frame devices, deceive: Diodorus 7, 16; 2 Samuel 19:27; (Exodus 21:13 Aq.; (middle) Chariton 7, 6, p. 166, 21 edition Reiske (1783); Polybius 38, 4, 10)), a noun occuring neither in the O. T. nor in secular authors, cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery: ἡ μεθοδεία τῆς πλάνης, which ἡ πλάνη uses, Ephesians 4:14; τοῦ διαβόλου, plural, Ephesians 6:11 (A. V. wiles. Cf. Lightfoot, Polycarp, ad Phil. 7 [ET], p. 918.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb μεθοδεύω (methodéuō), meaning "to follow up or investigate by method and settled plan," and ultimately from μέθοδος (méthodos), meaning "a method" or "a systematic course."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for μεθοδεία, similar concepts of deceit and cunning can be found in Hebrew words such as מִרְמָה (mirmah, Strong's 4820), meaning "deceit" or "treachery," and עָרְמָה (ormah, Strong's 6195), meaning "craftiness" or "shrewdness." These terms capture the essence of cunning and deceitful strategies that are warned against in the biblical narrative.

Usage: The word μεθοδεία is used in the New Testament to describe the cunning and deceitful strategies employed by spiritual adversaries. It appears in contexts that warn believers to be vigilant against such deceptive tactics.

Context: The term μεθοδεία is found in the New Testament in Ephesians 4:14 and Ephesians 6:11. In Ephesians 4:14, the Apostle Paul warns believers against being "tossed by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming." Here, μεθοδεία is associated with the deceptive teachings and cunning strategies that can lead believers astray from the truth of the Gospel.

In Ephesians 6:11, Paul exhorts believers to "put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes." The use of μεθοδεία in this context highlights the strategic and deceitful nature of the devil's attacks against Christians. The passage emphasizes the need for spiritual preparedness and reliance on God's strength to withstand these cunning assaults.

The concept of μεθοδεία underscores the importance of discernment and spiritual vigilance in the Christian life. Believers are called to be aware of the subtle and deceptive tactics that can undermine their faith and to stand firm in the truth of God's Word.

Forms and Transliterations

μεθοδείαν μεθοδείας μεθοδιαν μεθοδίαν μεθοδιας μεθοδίας μεθώδευσεν methodeian methodeían methodeias methodeías

Englishman's Concordance

Ephesians 4:14 N-AFS
GRK: πρὸς τὴν μεθοδείαν τῆς πλάνης
NAS: by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
KJV: whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
INT: with a view to the scheming of deceit

Ephesians 6:11 N-AFP
GRK: πρὸς τὰς μεθοδείας τοῦ διαβόλου
NAS: against the schemes of the devil.
KJV: against the wiles of the devil.
INT: against the schemes of the devil

Strong's Greek 3180
2 Occurrences

μεθοδείαν — 1 Occ.
μεθοδείας — 1 Occ.